Truffes au Chocolat

Bayonne is famous for chocolates as well as ham. The taste dates from the 16th century, and was brought there by the Jews who were chased over the border from Spain by the Inquisition. At first, chocolate was lightly spiced with cinnamon and cloves and drunk without sugar, and until quite recently it remained a luxury, served in the afternoon with bread, quince jam and a slice of hard mountain cheese.